Scientists have overturned long-held assumptions in new research that finds water can be a help for adhesion. Water was found to increase adhesion by nearly four times during detachment, contrary to expectations. This breakthrough has profound implications for industries such as biomedical applications and advanced adhesives.
A study by University of Akron researchers found that corporate social irresponsibility like pollution, corruption, discrimination, or poor labor conditions in supply chains significantly damage brand reputation. Clear communication and ethical standards across global operations are crucial to make a positive impression in the market.
University of Akron researchers review polar bear paw prints to find secret to improved traction on snow and ice. They discover that the taller papillae on polar bears' paw pads increase frictional shear stress by 30-50%.
A team led by Dr. Yu Zhu has developed a more stable way to store energy in redox flow batteries, with a focus on aqueous organic materials and a new design strategy to enhance solubility. The technology has the potential to improve the usability of electricity-powered facilities such as vehicles.
Researchers have developed a new type of polymer that can be broken down into its constituent parts, reducing waste and promoting a circular use of materials. The polymers exhibit excellent thermal stability and versatile mechanical properties, making them an attractive candidate to replace traditional plastics.
Dr. Hossein Tavana's research aims to understand the fluid dynamics of surfactant in premature babies' lungs and improve surfactant replacement therapy for RDS. His lab will generate 3D physical models of airways to aid visualization of surfactant flow, leading to better design strategies.
The project aims to determine the forces that dictate underwater walking, shedding light on the colonization of land by animals. By studying Spanish ribbed newts, researchers hope to gain insight into the biomechanics of animal movement.
Researchers at the University of Akron have developed 3D tumor models that more accurately replicate human tumors than traditional 2D cultures. These models are being used to test new drugs and understand the drivers of triple-negative breast cancer, a type of cancer with limited treatment options.
A team of researchers, led by Professor Yu Zhu, has developed a novel shear-thickening electrolyte that can improve the safety of lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The electrolyte becomes thicker under impact, preventing short-circuiting and fires.
Three UA professors, Li Jia, Shi-Qing Wang, and Mesfin Tsige, have received NSF grants for research projects on bio-renewable polymers, mechanical performance of glassy and semicrystalline polymers, and multiscale modeling of mechanically-interlocked macromolecules. The total award value is over $1.1 million.
Researchers at the University of Akron aim to understand how lipid mediators exacerbate asthma symptoms, hoping to discover new treatments. The study will combine leukotriene and prostaglandin blockers to create a more potent asthma treatment.
Global warming is causing a rise in sea travel through the Arctic, posing risks to naval vessels due to extreme cold. Professor Tan and his team are researching composite materials to improve their strength and integrity at low temperatures.
A geosciences professor at the University of Akron has received a $512,045 NSF CAREER grant to investigate how lower crust strength anisotropy affects aftershock earthquake events. The study aims to provide new insights into rock properties and seismic release during earthquakes.
Researchers studying opioid addiction effects on bones are exploring how it impacts microscopic bone structures used to estimate age-at-death. Opioids upset the balance of bone remodeling towards more destruction and less formation of bone, leading to severely compromised age-at-death estimates.
Experts aim to understand how birds create resilient nests using twigs, leaves, and other materials, with potential applications in building, packaging, self-repairing, and shock-absorption. By studying the collective mechanical interactions of disordered filaments, they hope to develop new technologies inspired by nature.
A University of Akron engineer is working on antifouling materials to prevent unwanted organisms from accumulating on medical implants. This can help reduce the risk of foreign body reactions and improve patient outcomes.
A polymer science professor at The University of Akron is developing a fiber mat that detects opiate residue, providing first responders with quick indication of presence. Early prototypes will be used in latex gloves carried by responders to prevent exposure and overdose risk.
Researchers create 3D models of breast cancer tumors using stromal cells, which play a major role in cancer growth and progression. The study aims to introduce stromal cells as new therapeutic targets, offering potential treatments for triple-negative breast cancer.
Researchers developed a method to create 3D cultures of clustered cancer cells that better mimic tumors, enabling more accurate drug testing. A new NIH grant will model the response of colon cancer cells to anticancer drugs, aiming to identify molecular mechanisms of drug resistance and develop new treatment strategies.
Researchers developed a safer component for lithium batteries, improving energy density and reducing safety concerns.
Researchers at University of Akron discover the secret behind spider silk's sticky properties in humid conditions. They found that a combination of glycoproteins and low molecular mass compounds helps sequester interfacial water, preventing adhesive failure.
Sharon Truesdell, a Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student at the University of Akron, has been awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to support her research on bone cells and diseases like osteoporosis. The three-year fellowship includes a $34,000 stipend and cost-of-education allowance.
Dr. Adam Smith receives $650,000 CAREER award to develop a quantitative chemical model for receptor tyrosine kinases, targeting anti-cancer therapies. The project also includes education initiatives and citizen science projects.
The team aims to build a new type of computer that can speed up simulation of fusion reactors using high-speed analog computers based on RF/mm-wave circuits. This three-year project will explore how computationally intensive engineering and physics problems can be more rapidly solved.
Researchers discovered that peacock spiders' intense rainbow iridescence emerges from specialized abdominal scales with airfoil-like microscopic 3D contour and nanoscale diffraction grating structures. This finding may inspire new color technology for applications such as space missions and wearable chemical detection systems.
Dr. Yu Zhu's team developed a new polymer binding material and process to improve battery cyclability and storage density, extending the time between charges and overall battery life.
The participation of women in the labor force has nearly doubled since 1950, benefiting everyone, including men, with average wages increasing as a result. Women bring important skills and perspectives to businesses, making them more productive and competitive.
Researchers are developing a 'lab-on-a-chip' platform to study cellular communication in bone remodeling, aiming to improve our understanding of bone health and disease. The platform could also be used to test medications meant to halt bone loss, offering a potential solution for osteoporosis and related conditions.
Researchers at University of Akron investigate high microbial communities in BIF caves, theorizing microbes use iron to respire and cause rust-like oxides to become soluble. This process could be responsible for voids forming within the cave walls, eventually leading to new cave formation.
The University of Akron has launched a program called 'Zip to Industry' to explore the impact of job shadowing on STEM student retention. The project aims to provide paid job shadowing experiences for at-risk first-year STEM students to help them gain exposure to real-world work and develop skills needed to succeed.
A team of scientists has developed a new method for producing non-iridescent, bright structural colors inspired by the iridescence of bird feathers. The process uses a simple one-pot reverse emulsion technique to create supraballs with high color saturation and brightness.
A researcher at University of Akron is helping NASA develop smart satellites that can recognize environmental threats and complete tasks automatically. The goal is to reduce the need for real-time predictions and enable more efficient space exploration.
Dr. Barry Rosenbaum, a senior fellow at The University of Akron Research Foundation, received the national award for his outstanding contributions to entrepreneurship and innovation in higher education. He has pioneered innovative programs and collaborations that promote entrepreneurial education and economic development.
Researchers developed a new method to control nanoparticle organization in ultrathin polymer films through entropy-driven segregation. This approach, SCPINS, enables well-controlled nanoparticle organization on a submicron scale without tuning enthalpic interactions through chemistry.
Dr. Junliang Tao receives $500,000 grant to apply burrowing strategies from nature in underground construction technologies and small-scale robots. His project aims to improve high-efficiency tunnel design and generate enthusiasm among K-12 students for STEM education.
Scientists create new structural color material that showcases consistent color from all viewing directions, overcoming conventional wisdom about long-range order photonic structures. The innovative design has a wide viewing angle of 160 degrees, making it suitable for applications such as phone and television screens.
Assistant Professor Leah Shriver aims to find new ways to promote nervous system regeneration and prevent destruction of brain cells in multiple sclerosis patients. She plans to study the cuprizone intoxication model to understand mechanisms contributing to oligodendrocyte and myelin loss.
Atmospheric pressures of hundreds can be endured by a nanometer-thin layer of water exhibiting ice-like properties. This discovery could lead to improved designs in biomedical implants and antimicrobial coatings.
The University of Akron researcher is designing a new class of tough double-network hydrogels with unique mechanical toughness and self-healing properties. These hydrogels can be used in various applications such as wastewater treatment, tissue engineering, and drug delivery.
Dr. Mark Soucek, a professor at the University of Akron, has been awarded the Roy W. Tess Award in Coatings for his outstanding contributions to coatings science and technology. His research focuses on bio-based feedstocks, alkyd technology, and reactive diluent technologies.
Dr. David Simmons aims to develop a predictive understanding of the glass transition in strongly interacting polymers, which could lead to breakthroughs in materials science and technology. His research has the potential to improve human health, energy efficiency, and electronics.
Dr. Yu Zhu, a polymer scientist at the University of Akron, has received a $538,679 NSF CAREER Award to study new types of conjugated polymers with fused sites enabling hydrogen bonding. The project aims to design high-performance polymer electronics for flexible and economical electronic materials.
A new study by University of Akron researchers found that people who use Facebook to meet new friends are most dependent on the platform. The study also discovered personality traits common among specific types of Facebook users, such as extroverts and those with high self-esteem.
A new study could lead to a single drug that treats both diseases. The research focuses on the link between Abeta peptides and type 2 diabetes, offering hope for therapeutic advances.
Researchers have successfully created a new class of uncooled photodetectors that can operate at room temperature, overcoming limitations of existing inorganic detectors. These breakthrough devices will enable various industrial and scientific applications such as optical communications and chemical sensing.
Researchers are developing 3D-printed biodegradable polymer scaffolds to accelerate bone growth in head and neck injuries. The technology has the potential to produce mechanically strong replaced bone with minimal inflammation and within a short healing period.
A new laser-based microscope allows researchers to directly measure protein interactions and organization in live cells, providing insights into the chemistry of vision. The project aims to find a potential cure for congenital blindness by understanding how proteins absorb light and trigger visual responses.
Researchers at University of Akron develop soybean oil-based adhesives that work in wet conditions, addressing a billion-dollar industry's need for sustainable materials. The new adhesives mimic mussel proteins' ability to stick even in harsh marine environments.
Researchers at the University of Akron recreate structural color patterns in bird feathers to generate color without pigments and dyes. This breakthrough has potential applications in sensors, photo-protectors, and color creation from environmentally friendly materials.
Researchers at The University of Akron have pioneered a new class of hybrid materials by creating tetrahedron building blocks that assemble themselves into strong structures. This breakthrough has the potential to be custom-designed for various functional materials and applications in nanotechnologies.